Ireland can lead the way through smart cities

Ireland can capitalise on smart cities growth opportunities, according to Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

Brian Motherway, chief operations officer (COO) if SEAI, says that Ireland is uniquely positioned to capitalise on the opportunities that exist for smart cities to drive our economic growth forward.

Motherway spoke at the first international forum on the concept and initiatives of smart cities, titled ‘The Role of Smart Cities in Ireland’s Economic Recovery’, which outlined how the development of smart cities and smart regions will enable the country’s smart regions and future development.

More than 200 international industrialists, policy makers and economists attended the forum.

Using technology

“Future development of cities and regions will require the intelligent integration of communications technology, coupled with changing behaviour in how we use this technology, to make our cities and regions smarter and more energy efficient. This will offer Ireland opportunities for research, new job creation, increased competitiveness, with the added bonus of sustainable living.

“This forum will develop awareness of how Ireland can be part of Europe’s smart cities initiative and brand Ireland as a country who can show the way forward through our unique collaborative approach and the cluster of smart communications businesses already operating here,” said Motherway.

The forum covered how smart city development plans must have an integrated vision to demonstrate a transition to a low-carbon and more knowledge-intensive economy.